Apparatus for taping packages



July 7, 1959 G. o. COOK 2,893,188 8 APPARATUS FOR TAPING PACKAGES Filed July 29, 1954 INVENTOR Georgia 0. COOK.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O 2,893,188 I APPARATUS FOR TAPING PACKAGES George 0. Cook, Camp Hill, Pa.

Application July 29, 1954, Serial No. 446,686 2 Claims. (Cl. 53-198) (Granted under Title 35, US. 'Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates broadly to packaging and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for applying adhesive tape to packages for reinforcing the same.

- Large quantities of canned goods and like articles are,

packed for storage and shipment in conventional corrugated fiberboard cartons or boxes. These cartons are rectangular in shape and are provided at one side with overlapping closure flaps, which are held closed by suitable cement or the like. When the closed cartons are held in storage warehouses for a considerable length of time, the cement tends to dry out and weaken, and in subsequent handling of the cartons the closure flaps tend to burst open, which of course results in the spilling of the contents of the cartons.

To prevent this, the practice has arisen of applying a band or bands of adhesive tape around the cartons and across the outermost pair of closure flaps for reinforcing the horizontal seams or fold lines of the carton and also for preventing the closure flaps from opening in the event that the cement holding them closed dries out and fails. At the present time, the reinforcing adhesive tape is being applied to cartons of the'above-mentioned type by hand, and this is time consuming and requires considerable labor. Machines have been developed to apply the reinforcing adhesive tape to the cartons, but such machines are very complicated in construction and mode of operation, and have proven impractical and very expensive to build and maintain.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying the reinforcing tape to cartons of the above-mentioned type in an expeditious manner and with a minimum of labor and expense, thus eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages inherent in the presently employed practices for applying reinforcing tape to fiberboard cartons and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for applying reinforcing tape to packages which is highly simplified in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further important object is to provide a method and apparatus of the above-mentioned character which greatly reduces the manual labor involved for applying the reinforcing tape to the packages.

Still another object is to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned character which is adjustable to vary the tension on the adhesive tape so that the tape may engage the package with a proper degree of pressure to assure adhesion between the tape and the package.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

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Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus employed in the practice of the adhesive tape applying method,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 44 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates generally a section of roller conveyor of any preferred length, and being of conventional construction. The roller conveyor section 10 comprises the usual side rails or bars 11, which support a multiplicity of parallel spaced rollers 12, extending therebetween at right angles thereto and having their opposite ends journaled upon the side rails 11 for rotation. The roller conveyor section 10 is supported at its ends by legs 13, suitably rigidly secured thereto, and these legs support the roller conveyor section at the desired elevation and in a horizontal position.

As shown in the drawings, a number of the conveyor rollers 12 near the longitudinal center of the roller conveyor section 10 are omitted. This provides an empty space between the innermost pair of rollers 12 and between the side rails 11, Figure 3. At the longitudinal center of the section 10 of the roller conveyor, a horizontal transverse support plate or bar 14 extends transversely between the side rails 11, at right angles thereto, and has its ends rigidly secured to the bottoms of the side rails by welding or the like. The support plate 14 has a suitable thrust type ball bearing assembly 15 rigidly mounted thereon at its longitudinal center and at the transverse center of the roller conveyor section 10, as shown. The ball bearing assembly 15 includes an upper rotatable member or race 16, which revolves about the vertical axis of the ball bearing assembly, and the race 16 is disposed substantially flush with the top of the roller conveyor section 10, as shown.

A horizontal turntable or plate 17, which is preferably square, is suitably rigidly secured to the upper race 16 of the ball bearing assembly for rotation therewith in a horizontal plane, and the ball bearing assembly 15 is at the center of the turntable 17. The bottom of the turntable 17 is disposed close to and slightly above the tops of the rollers 12, so as to clear the same during rotation. The top of the turntable 17 preferably projects a slight distance above the tops of the rollers 12, such as one inch, for a purpose to be described. The turntable is freely rotatable about the vertical axis of the ball bearing assembly 15.

' A portable vertical shaft or standard 18 of a desired height is provided, and this standard has a heavyweighted base or pedestal l9 rigidly secured to its lower end to provide stability for the standard. The top of the standard 18 extends for a substantial distance above the top of the turntable 17, as shown.

A vertically adjustable collar or sleeve 20 is mounted upon the standard 18 above the elevation of the turntable 17, and suitable adjustable clamping means 21 are provided upon the collar 26 so that the same may be adjusted vertically or longitudinally of the standard 18 and locked in the selected adjusted position. A roll 22 of pressure sensitive adhesive tape is journaled for rotation upon the standard 18 above the adjustable collar 20, and the core or hub 23 of the adhesive tape roll slidably engages the top of the collar 20 as shown in Figure 5. The adhesive tape employed is preferably a filament reinforced cellulosic type of gummed tape, although any preferred type of pressure sensitive adhesivetape may be used, as found desirable. Above the .tape rollr22, a vertically adjustable brake collar or sleeve 24 is mounted upon the standard 18 and secured thereto by means of a setscrew orthe like The brake collar 24 ihas itslower end frictionallyengaging the core 2 3 ;of the tape roll, asjshown, The collar 24 m ay be ,adjusted upon the standard 18'andlocked in; the selectedfadjusted position to provide the desired frictional'brakingfaction au'pon: the rotatable tape roll 22,for a purposelto be described. Also, by adjusting both of the collars. 20 :.and224. and the tape roll 22 longitudinally of the standard 18, the elevation of. the tape roll above the turn- -"'table'17 maybe varied as. found desirable.

The .use .of the above described apparatus in the practice of. the method is .as follows: i a The standard 18. is set up nearvone 'side' of the. roller conveyor 10, and. preferably'adjacentfto. a-lcornerof the-turntable 17, as shown. It is preferred to. arrange the standard as closeto the turntable 17possib1e, allowing sufiicient clearance for the corners: of the turn- -table to pass the standard 18 during rotation'of..-the -..turntable. The operator of the apparatus may stand .-at the same side of the roller conveyor upon which 'the standard 18 is located and near the adjacent-side of the turntable. The adjustable collars 20 and 24 and 3 the tape roll 22 are arranged at the desired elevation upon the standard 18, for applying the adhesive tape ito boxes or cartons of a particular size and height. .The braking collar 24 is adjusted to provide a desired ten- :sion upon the adhesive tape to be unwound from the *tapemu'zz. i

The boxes or cartons 26 containing goods' or the like "are now placed upon the roller conveyor" section 10 near the end of the conveyor remote from the standard may be done by an additional operatonif -'de sired. The cartons 26 are initially arranged 'up'on'their sides, Figure l, with the meeting line 27 between their closure flaps '28 arranged horizontally, and-preferably V facing the side of the conveyor adjacent to which the standard 18 and the operator are located. Each box or carton 26 is now advanced longitudinally of'the conveyor 10 toward the square turntable 17, which as previously stated, projects above the tops or the rollers 12 The forward side of each carton 26 'willengage therear edge of the turntable 17, which is initially arranged transversely of the turntable 10 or parallel to the rollers 12. Upon engaging the rear edge of the turnble 17, the operator adjacent to the standard 18 merely [pivots or swings each carton 26 about the fulcrum provided by the elevated near edge of the turntable 17 andetu ms the carton 26 over upon the turntable so I that the meeting line 27 between the flaps 28 will then i bedispo'sed vertically at the side of the turntable nearest the standard 18, Figure 1. With this arrangement, .it is unnecessary for the operator to lift each carton 26 hw hen placing it upon the turntable, and this is an advantage, since the cartons bearing canned goods and the like may be quite heavy.

Each carton 26 is thus preferably arrangedcentrally upon the turntable 17 as shown in Figure 1. The tape roll 22, will now be disposed substantially at the verti- J cahcri-ter of the carton 26 as it rests uponlthe turntable 17, and the tape roll is disposed near one forward corner of the carton as best shown in Figure 3. The operator now applies the free end of the adhesive tape afrbm the roll 22 to the forward side of the carton 26, preferably near the forward corner of the carton ad- I :jacent to the standard 18. When this has been done, the loperator grasps the carton 26 upon the turntable and spins or rotates it in the direction of the arrow, Figure 3,

for one or more complete revolutions, and the carton 26 and turntable -17 will turn as a unit upon the ball bearing fas sembly. As this occurs, the adhesive tape will be unwound from the roll 22 and applied about'thecarton 26 in a liorizontal bandor'loop which will extend'tiansversely aeross the vertical meeting line 27 and closure flaps 28. The adhcsive tape band 29 thus applied to the carton 26 will adhere firmly to the four vertical sides of the carton due to the fact that sufficient tension upon the adhesive tape as it is unwound from the roll 22 is applied by the brakingicollari24. The tape engages the sides 9f. the. rotating. carton 26 under tension, and this causesth'e tape'totamacr the" carton with sufficient pressure to assure its adhesion thereto.

When one or more revolutions of the carton 26 and turntable'havebeencompleted,"the operator merely severs the adhesive ,tapebetween theroll 22 and the forward corner of the carton 26 which is now nearest the standaid"18'with-a' razer blade"30 or the like, as shown at 31 in Figure 4. The operator may press the free traili g ,endpfthea h i etaw sseiW-flne e n P- oration against the ,sideof the carton .by;hapd,;ifdesired, 1,5 t no. Portion sathe a e pe n 1 1 29 will be free from adhesion to the carton. step --may- ,be ,ornittedjf preferred.

This last If s.zde r.e teiepp y dd t n lfho n ba d .for :loops;29fof adhesive tape to the cartonj 26, after a tape roll ,22and collars 12,0 and 24 maybe adjusted vernumber of the cartons have had one reinforcing band of. tape appliedthereto near their verticalcenters, the

.tically upwardly orfidownwardly upon the standard 18, and the ,cartons; 26 may be again advancedl along the ,roller conveyorsltl :to the turntable 17, and'the above described operation repeated. By doing this, additional horizontal .bands .29. of tape may be applied to thecar- .tons above .or below the center .band 29, and the cartons will be further reinforced across the flaps 28. and about all four corners of the cartons parallel to the meeting line 27.

After the reinforcing bands of adhesive tape have been thus applied to. the cartons 26, the operatornear the standard '18 mererly pushes 'each carton forwardly off of the; turntable 17, and the cartons are advanced toward the forward or discharge end of the roller conveyor 10, where'another operator may receive them for transportation to any desired point.

It is thus seen that the above described'method and apparatusare" employed effectively and with a minimum of manual labor for a plying one or more bands of reinv forcing adhesive "tape about the cartons 'or'packages26 in a manner 'to 'rein'force"the "closure flaps-27 against open'ingin the-event that the"cem'e 'nt holding them closed should fail. The tapealso' reinforces the four cornersof 'th cartons'which' are mostlikely to burst open during handling; 'st'orageand' the like.

5 Itisusuauy not necessary to'apply-ta'pe to'the cartons at righfia'ngles to the reinforcing bands '29 of tape described above, butin the event that it should be desired to do 'this, it is merely necessary to advance the cartons along theroller conveyor in the same manner as' above described, but with theclosure flaps 28 arranged at the tops or' bottoms of the cartons as'they are placed upon ":the turntable 17. 'Whenthis is done, and the above de- (30 sfcrib ed.loperafioniscarried out, bands of adhesive tape mayb eappliedto cartons at right angles to the bands "29, and; the'cartons will be effectively reinforced upon al 1 o th same. r 1

It should be mentioned that the standard 18' is po1table and need not be'bolted to the floor. It is entirely a matter of choiceon the part of the operator as to which side of the conveyor'10 the standard 18 is tobe located. Differentoperators'r'riay desire to position'the'st'andard m trated inthe drawings; and the precise'location of the at a' slightly diiferenfinitial position than "thatillusstandard may be adju'sted somewhatas found mostconvenient 'by 'the operatorjdf the 'standard' 18 is located attheopposite' side of the conveyor from that" illustrated in the drawingsjthe cartons or boxes'are merely advanced upon the conveyor in the opposite direction, and the operation of the apparatus will be otherwise identical.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts of the apparatus, as well as various slight changes in the method steps may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in applying vertically-spaced reinforcing tapes to a non-circular package, comprising a substantially horizontal roller conveyor table, a substantially horizontal rectangular turntable journaled upon the roller conveyor table and spaced somewhat above the tops of the rollers of the conveyor table to provide a fulcrum for manually pivoting said package about the near edge of said turntable onto the center of said tumtable into proper position for taping as said package is advanced along the conveyor table, an upright standard positioned near one side of the turntable and extending above the turntable, a collar mounted on said standard, said collar being vertically movable on said standard for a distance approximately equal to the height of said package, and said standard being free from obstructions to the vertical adjustment of said collar on said standard for a distance at least as great as the height of the package, and a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape journaled upon the standard above said collar and slidably contacting said collar; whereby upon vertical movement of said collar to a predetermined height above said turntable, and application of the free end of said adhesive tape to said package, said adhesive tape is unwound from said roll and applied about said package in a substantially horizontal band when said turntable and package are conjointly rotated, and whereby upon a second vertical positioning of said last-mentioned collar to a height different from said first height and re-application of the free end of said adhesive tape to said package, said adhesive tape is again unwound from said roll and applied about said package in a second substantially horizontal band vertically spaced from said first band when said turntable and package are again conjointly rotated.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a vertically movable brake collar is mounted upon said upright standard above said roll of adhesive tape for frictionally engaging said roll to regulate the tension on said adhesive tape as it is unwound from said roll and applied about said package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,602 Crowell May 3, 1898 1,344,785 Angier June 29, 1920 1,588,930 Ashmead June 15, 1926 1,649,327 Sheldon Nov. 15, 1927 1,714,532 Walter May 28, 1929 1,984,568 Casella Dec. 18, 1934 2,591,136 Cleary et a1. Apr. 1, 1952 2,630,751 Cranston Mar. 10, 1953 2,651,900 Heilman Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 473,152 Canada Apr. 24, 1951 

